GRIMSBY Town’s two latest signings will help the team reach the next level in League Two next season.

That’s according to Mariners assistant boss Paul Wilkinson, who knows plenty about new boys Siriki Dembele and Sam Kelly.

The pair were just two bits of business during a busy fortnight for Town, which also saw the arrival of Mitch Rose, as well as current players Harry Clifton, Ben Davies and Danny Collins signing new deals.

Wilkinson already has plenty of experience of working with versatile midfielder Kelly, who he coached during his time as a Norwich City Academy coach in 2014.

It was from the Canaries that he made the move to Port Vale in 2015, where he made 49 appearances in League One – and came up against then Northampton assistant manager Wilkinson last season.

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So, when Wilkinson joined Russell Slade in returning to Town in April, it only made sense for the former striker to keep his eye on the 23-year-old.

“I worked with Sam when I was at Norwich with the under-21s,” Wilkinson told the Telegraph.

“He was part of my squad then, so I’ve got plenty of prior knowledge of him.

“He’s had a couple of years of first team football at Port Vale now and he’s done very well in that time, so we think he’s a very good acquisition for us.

“He’s got decent pace, good energy, and he can play in any number of positions.

“What he gives us is a lot of quality and also a lot of different options. He’s another player that will help to improve the squad, and hopefully keep us going in the right direction.”

Siriki Dembele in action while on trial with Grimsby Town during a behind closed doors game against Barnsley. (Image: Jon Corken)

Wilkinson also has plenty of knowledge on Town’s new winger Dembele.

The former striker, alongside Slade, watched the 20-year-old’s progress intently during his trial with the Mariners last season, which saw him train at Cheapside and feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Barnsley at Blundell Park.

And, having beaten other clubs to the signing of the former Nike Academy star, Wilkinson is excited to see how Dembele develops while with Town.

“He’s a young lad with lots of potential and he’s going to be a working project for us which is always important.

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“We’ll be looking for him to be challenging for a position during the season, so he’s very much a part of the squad.

“He’s got a lot of raw potential at the minute, it’ll just be a case of guiding that potential and pointing him in the right direction at the right time.

“We’ll make sure he’s involved with us right from the start, and it’ll be a great opportunity for him.”